Elmbridge borough has been reduced from 22 council wards to 16 (Image: TMS)

A borough-wide reshuffle awaits; how it turns out, we will find out on May 5.

Each party has provided Get Surrey a statement setting out its stall for this year's elections ahead of the vote.

What are the parties saying?

Conservative

The Conservative Party (Image: TMS)

"Elmbridge continues to be not only one of the highest performing councils in the country, but also one of the most sought after boroughs to live in.

"Conservative councillors will do all they can to maintain our residents’ quality of life by keeping increases in council tax to the minimum, investing in our borough, opposing inappropriate development and continuing to deliver high quality efficient services to our residents.

"As Conservatives, we believe in value for money as well as open, transparent and effective democracy.

"That is why as Conservatives, we have eliminated unnecessary and wasteful expenditure from Elmbridge Borough Council achieving savings of nearly £10m over the past seven years.

"Conservative controlled Elmbridge has a strong record of keeping down council tax over the past 10 years while at the same time, protecting and improving the services our residents rightly value.

"In addition, we have increased funding for the Borough’s incredible voluntary sector organisations and supported our local businesses.

"Please support our candidates on May 5 to keep Elmbridge in safe hands and moving forward with confidence."

Residents' Group

Elmbridge's Residents' Group candidates (Image: TMS)

"After 10 years of Conservative rule, Elmbridge needs change to reclaim local government from Westminster-dominated parties and career politicians.

"Residents’ Group councillors respect their local mandate, are independent-minded, vote with their conscience and are not restricted by a party whip.

"We will not waver from our commitment to defend our green belt and open spaces, and protect our heritage.

"The current Conservative councillors have voted en bloc for hotels to be built on green belt land, overdevelopment of the Walton swimming pool site and the loss of the Stompond Lane sports ground, and (overriding the view of local people and their ward councillors), for a massive overdevelopment opposite Hampton Court Palace – a site of national importance.

"We consider council car parks to be vital community assets and will stop the sale of any car parks.

"If elected, the Residents’ Group will aim to increase footfall in local shopping centres and support businesses by introducing free parking on Saturdays, reviewing the level of car park charges and reviewing the times when charges apply in each area individually.

"We are answerable solely to the local residents and not to a national political party."

Labour

Elmbridge's Labour candidates (Image: TMS)

"This election is a chance to vote for a Labour Party that will stand up for you – the alternative to a Tory government whose unfair choices are putting at risk family prosperity and the public services we rely on, while their failure to invest for the future is putting the economic recovery at risk.

"Labour councillors will stand up for the people in Elmbridge. Labour will support working people by investing in new affordable homes to rent and buy.

"Our plans will bring the spiralling cost of housing down and control the housing benefits bill too.

"We will stand up against unfair Tory cuts to protect neighbourhood policing and oppose deep Tory cuts to the police. And we will invest in the NHS to rescue it from Tory neglect, joining up services from home to hospital, so it is fit for the future.

"We will campaign to remain in the European Union and to improve the benefits we receive, including employment rights, paid holidays and good health and safety.

"Labour candidates live in the local community and know the problems experienced by Elmbridge residents. They will always be available to take up issues on behalf of local people."

Liberal Democrats

Elmbridge's Liberal Democrat candidates (Image: TMS)

"A progressive and caring local government works hand in hand with the people it represents.

"Elmbridge Liberal Democrats value citizen participation and empowerment of residents in decisions that impact their lives. We believe it is the key to delivering a higher quality of services and enhancing the quality of life.

Our priorities for Elmbridge are:

Safeguarding the green belt in order to provide "green lungs" between communities.

Striving for sensible managed development, which enriches the environment and ensures the enforcement of planning breaches.

Providing sufficient social housing and homes that people can afford, recognising particularly the needs of our young people and families.

Inspire and facilitate voluntary activity in all sections of our communities in order to improve service delivery and increase community engagement; help establish parish councils.

"Making Elmbridge greener is achievable, simple traffic restrictions will affect the air you and your children breathe. We can do so much if you elect us to the council. Fewer people vote in local elections – your vote is over 10 times more effective than the General Election.

"Our principal local policies are to keep the council tax as low as possible while supporting local services; give real decision making to local communities; protect our green spaces; provide local homes for local people and veterans first; cut highly paid council executives, not frontline staff and services.

"Voting to leave the EU on June 23 will help in achieving these sensible objectives:

Cutting the £350m we send to Brussels every week and spending it here in the UK instead.

Reducing the pressure to build houses on our green spaces through controlled immigration.

Reducing the regulatory burden on local authorities and small businesses."

Independent

Elmbridge independent candidate Craig MacKenzie (Image: TMS)

" One look at Weybridge High Street tells you just how much the Conservatives have failed the people who live, work and run businesses in our town.

"After a decade of Tory policies, is it any wonder fewer people shop in Weybridge with its grimy, uneven pavements, an ugly seldom-used public toilet, expensive parking charges and lack of independent shops like butchers, bakers and greengrocers?

"We have plenty of charity shops but we don’t have a monthly farmers’ market like Walton. We have numerous estate agents but we don’t have a local cinema like Walton, Esher and another soon in Addlestone. While our neighbours have thriving high streets and investment, Weybridge gets nothing. And yet we now pay the highest council tax in the UK.

"Parking is a major issue. Residents are rightly angry that their streets are jammed with cars because shoppers are reluctant to pay 90p an hour to park their vehicles.

"The Conservatives have promised to increase the charges for the next three years. The Independents plan to introduce free parking on Saturdays to bring people into Weybridge and to solve the concerns of residents.

"The Conservatives have had 10 years to make a difference. They have failed."